Downtown Iola will be a little less bright for the holiday season this year.
The city will not light the buildings surrounding the courthouse square for Christmas because the old strands have begun to fail.
The city did what it could to keep the lights ablaze last year, Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock told Iola City Council members Monday, by “robbing” bulbs from old strands of lights, but could not find appropriate light bulbs or matching strands this year.
“I want to say how disappointed I am,” Councilwoman Kim Peterson said. “I want to make sure we as a council get that remedied for next year.”
The city replaced its downtown pole lights in 2021. Those will be used once again around the square and along North State Street.
Peterson said she also favored seeing more of State Street aglow with holiday lights, extending from Garfield Street to U.S. 54.
“It just makes it so much prettier,” she said.
Councilman Nickolas Kinder wondered if the city could replace the lights quickly enough for this year by utilizing residential lights.
That suggestion gained no traction.
“Commercial grade vs. residential makes a lot of difference,” Mayor Steve French responded.
“We have a whole year to figure this out,” Peterson concluded.
